Jimmy Kimmel gives Breitbart and the Drudge Report the mockery they deserve for their hyperbolic reportage of our President, bowing in submission to a Japanese robot! It is scandalous! The interaction with the robot, which looks like a short storm trooper, is certain to give wings to right wing media speculation about Obama’s takeover by his ‘White House jack-booted thugs.’ The President did bend slightly to speak privately with the robot, and could have been placing an order for all we know.
Jimmy speculates that the robot may be working alone, and seeking asylum from our country to escape degrading treatment by his masters. Japan does lead the world in the development of sex robots, Jimmy may be onto something!
Meanwhile, in the real world, the New York Post gave a more factual report about the meeting and President Obama’s other activities during the visit to Japan. The voice was slightly halting, childlike. “Welcome to Miraikan, Mr. President, it is a pleasure to meet you.” President Barack Obama bowed, looking delighted. His greeter, after all, was a 55-inch-tall, give or take, humanoid robot with the look of a diminutive Star Wars storm trooper.“It’s nice to meet you, too,” Obama said, pausing to watch the robot, named ASIMO, perform during a tour of the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. “Asimo” stands for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility.
Despite Obama’s background in constitutional law, there’s a presidential geek side that always seems charmed, if not bemused, by technological advances. Asimo, made by Honda, announced “I can really run fast” before loping toward a soccer ball and informing Obama, “I can kick a soccer ball, too.”
The robot delivered a well-aimed ball at Obama who trapped it neatly with his foot. For its final demonstration, the robot declared, “Recently I have learned how to jump.” It then proceeded to hop, first on one foot, then on two. Curious, Obama asked Mamoru Mohri, chief executive director of Miraikan, whether the robot was remote controlled. Yes, Mohri replied, but the robot can act autonomously, too.
Obama also witnessed demonstrations by other robots, including one designed by Japanese technicians and partially financed by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency that was developed to help with disaster response.
“I have to say the robots were a little scary,” he said afterward. “They were too life-like.”